8-Year-Old Bravely Fights Off Attempted Kidnapper Wearing Clown Mask & Helps Police Identify Him

An 8-year-old Colorado girl fought back against an alleged kidnapper inside her home, thwarting his plan. Thomas Gallegos, 56, reportedly broke into a family’s home in Sterling and tried to take the girl from her bedroom. Gallegos allegedly wore a mask and tried to blindfold the girl during the attempted kidnapping. Bravely, she fought back, potentially saving herself from a terrifying fate.

According to an arrest affidavit obtained by KUSA, Gallegos hit the child in the head, rendering her unconscious, and left the home. When she awoke, she told her mom what happened. Thankfully, police found the suspect a short time later and arrested him. Gallegos faces multiple charges associated with the attempted kidnapping.

More from CafeMom: Homeless Man Wearing Blond Wig, Smeared Makeup Allegedly Tried To Kidnap an 11-Year-Old Boy

Gallegos allegedly entered the home in the middle of the night.

Per the arrest affidavit, Gallegos broke into the unidentified family’s home between 1 and 2 a.m. October 15, KUSA reported. First, the suspect entered the child’s room and allegedly tried to blindfold her. Quickly, the child reportedly awoke and began to fight back. That is when Gallegos reportedly hit the child on the head and ran from the home.

The suspect evidently wore a disguise during the break-in.

Apparently, the suspect had on a clown mask during the attempted kidnapping. He left that behind in the child’s room after the attack, along with a pair of gloves. Gallegos allegedly took the victim’s phone when he left the home. In turn, police used location data from the phone to help identify Gallegos as a suspect.

Gallegos wasn't a stranger.


Frighteningly, the unidentified victim’s mother told police that Gallegos visited the family’s home earlier in the week to help install a washer and dryer, KUSA reported. Apparently, he lived in the neighborhood, and police used “a significant amount of digital, forensic, and physical evidence” to locate him, according to a press release from the Sterling Police Department posted on Facebook.

Police took Gallegos into custody on October 19.

Gallegos told police he was in Denver at the time of the break-in and denied hurting the child, according to NBC News. Sadly, she reportedly had a cut on the back of her head requiring staples and a bruise on her right eye, the arrest affidavit said.

Per the document, “We explained that we just wanted the truth, Thomas said that he was done talking.” Following his refusal to talk, police served a court order for a DNA sample and Gallegos’ cellphone.

More from CafeMom: Super Mom Fights Off Teen Daughter’s Would-Be Kidnapper in Wild Video

The disguise reportedly belonged to the suspect's grandson.

According to NBC News, Gallegos’ wife told police her husband denied any allegations. She confirmed her husband’s identity as the man from security footage near the victim’s home. Additionally, his wife said the clown mask the man carried in the video belonged to their grandson.

Gallegos faces charges of first-degree burglary, second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and child abuse. Per KUSA, his next court date is November 4.

“The Sterling Police Department wishes to thank the community for their assistance in taking a dangerous predator off the streets,” the department posted on Facebook.